Smoker&#39;s novelty



P 1935- c. R. JOHNSON 2,015,524

SMOKER S NOVELTY Filed Oct. 9,' 1934 Patented Sept. 24, 1935 UNITEDSTATES PATENT- OFFICE This invention relates to improvements in asmokers novelty comprising a cigar or cigarette holder provided with areceptacle for the same while it is not in use.

The purposes of my invention in relation to the prior art may beunderstood from the following considerations. Many smokers, in smoking acigar, cigarette or the like, find that a holder is a desirableaccessory because it eliminates certain inconveniences and modifiescertain physio logical effects which accompany smoking. While smoking acigar or cigarette with the aid of a clean holder of suitable design, asmoker may enjoy not only the advantages provided by the use of theholder, but also (something that is more important to many smokers) thecharacteristic odor, fiavor, and taste constituting the aroma of theparticular cigar or cigarette being burned. However, it ischaracteristic of the cigar and cigarette holders commonly used bysmokers that they tend to accumulate certain injurious and objectionableconstituents of tobacco smoke. If these constituents are allowed toremain in the holder exposed to the atmosphere, still other injuriousand objectionable substances are formed,

in reactions which may involve even the material of the holder itself.Subsequently, while using the uncleaned holder in smoking a cigar orcigarette, the smoker no longer obtains its characteristic aroma andefiect, for additional and objectionable odors, tastes, andphysiological effects are superimposed thereupon.

It is one purpose of my invention to provide users of cigars orcigarette holders with a sufficiently efiective and extraordinarilyconvenient means of avoiding these objectionable odors, tastes, andphysiological effects.

It is another object of my invention to provide a useful and compactsmoking accessory adapted for pocket use or personal wear, including acigar or cigarette holder, a protective and sanitary case for the same,and especially convenient means for removing objectionable andunsanitary accumulations from the holder.

The invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements ofitems which may be embodied in a new and useful article of manufacture,as will hereinafter be more fully set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing I have illustrated one complete example ofthe physical form which my invention may take, wherein the various itemsare combined and arranged in the best manner I have thus far devised forthe practical application of the principles of my invention. It isunderstood, however, that the invention is not confined to any strictconformity with the showing of the drawing, but may be changed ormodified as long such changes or modifications cause no: departure fromthe essential feal tures of the invention as expressed in the appendedclaims.

In the drawing:

The figure is a longitudinal sectional view of the preferred form of myimproved smokers nov' e1ty, which shows all of the essential features ofthe invention covered by the claims. 7

Referring to the drawing by characters of reference: I have shown atubular case formed by the separable parts i and i2 threadably joined asat 9, the joint being made sufiiciently tight by means of a gasket 6.The tubular case has a closed lower end, and a closed upper end in whicha detachable cap I0 is threaded, at II. A partition I, which is weldedor otherwise joined to the part I2 as at M, divides the closed case intotwo compartments, one of which'contains an absorbent material 8 and theother of which contains (and is capable of satisfactorily retaining) asolvent material 5. Wholly or partially-immersed in the solvent material5 is a cigar or cigarette holder 2 of a standard form and size. To oneside of the partition I is welded or otherwise attached, as at I3, a rodor arm 3 terminating in a hook 4. It should be noted that parts 3 and 4serve: (a) as a means of restraining (i. e., preventing or restricting)the movement of the holder 2, in the closed case, (b) as a means oftransferring the holder to and from the open case, and (c) as a means ofapplying the absorbent material 8 to dry the holder, after it has beenremoved from the case.

In applying my invention I make the parts I, l2, 1 and 3 of metal orother suitable material capable of being formed in artistic and inter-40 esting designs and possessing the requisite degree of rigidity andinsolubility in the solvent material 5. The detachable cap I0 I make ofmetal or of some suitable composition of commerce available inattractive or brightly colored forms.

I employ ordinary cotton as the absorbent material 8, and use as agasket 6 some material commonly so used in the prior art, for example,cork or a fibrous composition.

The cigar or cigarette holder 2 I make of ordinary glass, a materialwhich is sufficiently rigid, workable (by means within the knowledge ofthe art), and insoluble in the solvent materials hereinafter described.I find that glass cigar and cigarette holders are easily andsufficiently freed of accumulated decomposition and oxidation productsof tobacco by immersion in the solvent materials hereinafter specified.Moreover, glass holders do not absorb or otherwise react with theseproducts which collect in the solvent materials, to an extent or in amanner which would render glass holders unsuitable for use in myinvention. It is obvious that the cigar or cigarette holder 2 could bemade of other materials possessing the above-mentioned properties.

I have found by trial certain organic solvents and solutions of organicand inorganic compounds which are suitable for use in my invention asthe solvent material 5. One of the most inexpensive and most generallysatisfactory of these is ethyl alcohol. B'y ethyl alcohol I mean asolvent material consisting mainly of ethyl alcohol, such as the 95% (byvolume) alcohol of commerce or the so-called absolute ethyl alcoholfamiliar to chemists.

Other solvent materials which I have found suitable for use in myinvention are: ethyl acetate, ethyl acetate to which a relatively smallamount of water has been added, and carbon tetrachloride, from which,preferably, impurities having objectionable odors or harmfulphysiological effects have been removed.

Still other solvent materials which I have found effective are: ethylalcohol solutions containing small amounts of boric acid or benzoicacid. When these solutions are used a residue of white crystals may beleft on the cigar or cigarette holder after it has been removed from thesolvent material and dried, a fact which may be considered adisadvantage by some smokers.

Water is also to some extent operative when used as a solvent materialin my invention, since water dissolves nicotine, one of the harmfulconstituents of tobacco smoke. However, water does not remove certainother constituents from the holder to the same extent as the solventmaterials mentions above. Water solutions containing small amounts ofboric acid or benzoic acid are somewhat more effective in thisconnection than water alone.

In so far as I have been able to ascertain, small amounts of coloringmatter, perfumery, antiseptic material, or impurities do not render thespecified solvent materials ineffective for use in the invention.

The operation of this preferred form of the invention which I haveillustrated is extremely easy, a'fact which lends the article value as auseful smokers accessory. After use, the cigar or cigarette holder 2 isplaced in the solvent material 5 in the case I, which is then closed byjoining the two parts I and 12 at the threaded joint 9. The entirearticle is then simply carried about in a pocket or vanity case untilthe holder is required. When the holder is removed from the case anddried with a small amount of the absorbent material 8 (twisted looselyaround the hook 4), it is again sufficiently clean and ready for use. Inorder to make this simple procedure continuously effective, it isnecessary to renew the solvent material 5 occasionally, because of theimpurities which gradually accumulate in it.

In brief, the novel combination of elements employed in the inventionmakes it possible to accomplish easily and effectively the purposes setforth above.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A smokers novelty comprising a case partitioned into separablecompartments, one compartment containing an absorbent material andhaving a detachable cap, another compartment containing a cigaretteholder substantially immersed in ethyl alcohol, a rod attached to thecompartment containing the absorbent material and so placed as torestrain the movement of the holder in the closed case, and a hook atthe end of the rod for use in transferring the holder to and from theopen case and in applying the absorbent material to dry the holder.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination comprising acompartment with an absorbent material, another compartment containing aholder for smoking material and a solvent suitable for separatingeffectively from the holder. the normal accumulations acquired duringuse, and a slender arm attached to a partition of one compartment, saidarm and its terminal parts being adapted for transferring the holder toand from the open case, and for applying the absorbent material indrying the holder, as and for the purposes set forth.

. CLYDE R. JOHNSON.

